What to Put in Decorative Bowl: Guide to Enhancing Your Home Décor

Last updated on May 17, 2024

Unleashing your inner stylist becomes an easy task when you know exactly what to put in a decorative bowl, because this versatile centerpiece can turn any part of your home into a more inviting and aesthetic place with the right fillers.

Key takeaways:

Seasonal Fruits: Apples, cinnamon sticks, citrus fruits, lemons, limes, peaches, apricots, nectarines.
Ornamental Balls: Glass, metal, wood, wicker, seasonal motifs.
Driftwood Pieces: Natural, rugged charm, pair with stones or moss.
Pine Cones: Rustic, painted, stringed, cinnamon essential oil.
Potpourri Mix: Dried botanicals, spices, essential oils, layering.

What's Inside

Seasonal Fruits

Embrace nature’s bounty to infuse a touch of freshness into your living space. Opt for apples and cinnamon sticks during fall for a cozy ambiance, or bright citrus fruits in the winter to add a pop of color and a fresh scent to your room.

When spring rolls in, consider using lemons and limes. For summer, a mix of peaches, apricots, and nectarines offers a vibrant, juicy arrangement. Not only do they look great, but they also provide a natural, inviting aroma.

Remember to swap out the contents regularly to keep the display looking fresh and to prevent spoilage.

Ornamental Balls

Choosing ornamental balls can transform your decorative bowl into a vibrant centerpiece or a subtle accent, depending on your aesthetic preferences. These spherical adornments come in various materials such as glass, metal, wood, or woven materials, each offering a distinct texture and feel.

For a sleek and modern look, opt for mirrored or metallic finishes that reflect light and add a touch of glamour. If a rustic vibe is more your style, consider matte finishes in earthy tones or wicker balls. For holiday decor, selecting balls with seasonal motifs like snowflakes or autumn leaves can add a festive touch.

Mix sizes and shades to create depth within the bowl, ensuring each ball is visible and contributes to the overall visual appeal. Remember, the key is to achieve balance without overcrowding the bowl, letting each ornamental ball stand out — whether as a statement piece or part of a harmonious collection.

Driftwood Pieces

Accentuating your home with the raw beauty of nature creates an inviting and serene atmosphere. Incorporating pieces of driftwood into your decorative bowl showcases an organic aesthetic and brings a touch of the outdoors inside.

Each piece tells a story of travel across waterways and time, offering a distinct and rugged charm to your decor. When selecting driftwood, look for unique shapes and textures that compel visual interest and complement the size of your bowl.

For a harmonious display, consider pairing these natural sculptures with elements like stones or moss, emphasizing their earthy origin and enhancing their visual appeal. Whether arranged alone or as part of a mixed tableau, driftwood transforms a simple bowl into a captivating focal point.

Pine Cones

Adding these rustic elements to your decorative bowl brings a touch of nature indoors, creating a cozy, woodland vibe. They’re especially fitting for autumn and winter, aligning with seasonal themes.

To enhance their appearance, consider painting the tips white or gold for a snowy or glamorous look. You can also string them with clear fishing line to create an illusion of pine cones floating within the bowl—an intriguing twist on a classic decor.

For a more aromatic experience, a hint of cinnamon essential oil can imbue your space with the nostalgic scent of the holidays. If variety appeals to you, mix in different sizes or types of pine cones to add depth and texture to your display.

Potpourri Mix

A mix of dried botanicals and spices, potpourri infuses your space with a delightful fragrance and adds a touch of rustic charm to your decorative bowl.

Choose a blend that complements the season or your room’s decor—autumnal cinnamon and orange peels for fall, or rose petals and lavender for a springtime feel.

For an extra sensory experience, add a few drops of essential oils to refresh the scent.

Layer the mixture to create a visually appealing display, perhaps highlighting unique elements like large seed pods or colorful flower heads to make them stand out.

Not only does potpourri keep your room smelling fresh, but it’s also a visually dynamic filler for any decorative bowl.

Sea Shells

Transport your decor to the seaside with a careful selection of various shells. Incorporate different sizes and shapes to add texture and interest.

For a harmonious look, stick to a cohesive color palette—mixing hues of white, beige, and pink.

Complement the oceanic vibe by including a sprinkle of sand or add small starfish to complete the marine-inspired theme.

Be mindful of the balance between the shells and the bowl size to ensure a visually pleasing display.

This approach invites a bit of coastal charm into your home, offering a serene visual focal point.

Decorative Beads

Choosing the right decorative beads can add a sparkle and sophistication to any room. Consider varying sizes and colors to create a visually interesting display. Glass beads reflect light beautifully, while wooden or ceramic beads bring a more earthy, textured look.

For a cohesive aesthetic, match bead tones with the room’s color scheme. Be mindful of children and pets, ensuring that small beads are out of reach to avoid any choking hazards. To keep the arrangement fresh, switch out beads seasonally or mix them with other elements like mini pumpkins in autumn or sprigs of holly during the holidays. With a touch of imagination, these small adornments can make a big impact.

Floating Candles

For a touch of tranquility, add water to your decorative bowl and carefully place a selection of floating candles on the surface. These can set a serene ambiance for dinner parties or simply as a calming decoration.

Keep in mind a few pointers:

1. Match the water level to the size of your candles to ensure they float properly without tipping.
2. Choose unscented candles if you’re pairing them with food to avoid clashing aromas.
3. Consider the bowl material; glass bowls enhance the reflection of the candlelight, amplifying the effect.
4. Add flower petals or greenery between the candles for a natural, spa-like appearance.
5. Space candles evenly to prevent them from clustering together when lit.
6. Always monitor lit candles, especially in a centerpiece, to ensure safety.

Succulents

Nestling a group of small succulents into a decorative bowl can create a vibrant, low-maintenance mini garden. This adds a touch of greenery to any room without requiring a green thumb.

When arranging succulents, consider the following tips:

Mix and match different species for varied textures and colors.
Use cactus soil or a sand-rich potting mix to ensure proper drainage.
Place them at different heights and depths to create visual interest.
If the bowl doesn’t have drainage holes, add a layer of gravel beneath the soil to help manage excess water.
Succulents prefer bright, indirect light, so position the bowl in a spot that receives ample light but is shielded from harsh afternoon sun.
Water sparingly, allowing the soil to dry between waterings.

With their sculptural qualities and variety of forms, succulents are ideal for adding a lively yet sophisticated touch to any space. Opt for a bowl that complements your decor and makes the green hues pop.

Miniature Figurines

Incorporating tiny figurines into your bowl can add a charming narrative or whimsical touch to your decor. Whether you fancy a fairy-tale theme with mini castles and mythical creatures or prefer a more realistic depiction with animal statuettes or daily life scenes, the possibilities are endless.

Choose figures that resonate with your interests or reflect the current season—think ice skaters during winter or a sandcastle and beachgoers in the summer. To make them stand out, pair with a simple filler like sand or moss that won’t steal the spotlight.

By varying the sizes and positions of these figures, you can create a dynamic scene that draws the eye and sparks conversations. Remember to leave some negative space; it highlights each piece and prevents the arrangement from looking cluttered.

Glass Gems

Adding a touch of shine and color is effortless with these small, but impactful accessories. Choose from a spectrum of hues to complement your room’s palette or pick clear gems for a subtler sparkle.

The reflective quality casts a delightful play of light across the space, especially when sunlight filters in, making them an excellent choice for brightening a dull corner.

To prevent them from looking cluttered, mix sizes and colors purposefully, creating a gradient effect or grouping like colors for a more cohesive appearance.

Their low maintenance also means you simply need to dust them off occasionally to keep the gleam alive.

Pebbles

Enhance your decorative bowl’s visual appeal by selecting pebbles of various sizes and colors. Whether you opt for smooth river rocks, polished gemstones, or rustic natural pebbles, the key to styling them in your bowl is to create a mix that complements the bowl’s material and surrounding decor.

For a serene, Zen-like vibe, stick to a monochromatic palette and layer the stones evenly. If you’re aiming for a more playful or vibrant look, intersperse bright, multi-colored pebbles with neutral tones.

Not only do these stones add an organic touch to your interior, but they also serve as a sturdy base for other decorative items should you choose to layer in additional elements.

Artificial Fruit

Bringing a touch of timeless elegance to your decor, faux fruit offers a vibrant, no-fuss alternative for dressing up your bowl. These lifelike pieces are maintenance-free and remain fresh year-round, sidestepping the need for regular replacements.

Choose from a variety of types such as lemons, apples, or grapes to create a visually appealing display. Mix and match colors for a dynamic composition, or stay monochromatic for a sophisticated look.

For an extra layer of realism, consider fruit with textured surfaces that mimic the feel of their real counterparts. When arranging, keep larger pieces at the bottom and build up to smaller ones to achieve a balanced, overflowing effect.

Not only do they complement any room, but these imitations also dodge the problem of attracting pests, making them a practical choice for any setting.

Battery-operated Fairy Lights

Inject instant warmth and a dreamy atmosphere into any room with a string of battery-operated fairy lights cradling inside your decorative bowl. These tiny, twinkling lights add a magical touch, especially during evening hours, creating a soft, ambient glow that can elevate the mood of your space.

To maximize their effect:

Opt for lights with a timer function to ensure they only illuminate at your desired times.
If the bowl is transparent or translucent, the lights will create interesting patterns on nearby surfaces, so consider their placement.
Mix the fairy lights with other non-flammable items like glass gems or pebbles for added visual interest.
Twirl the lights loosely or lay them in a natural, haphazard fashion to avoid a too-structured look.
Check the light string length and bowl size for a good fit. The bowl should be large enough to accommodate the light strand without overflow.
Always check the battery life and light function before placing them in the bowl to avoid the need for frequent rearranging.

Terrarium Elements

Transforming a decorative bowl into a miniature ecosystem offers a creative twist and a touch of greenery to your space.

Incorporate a layer of sand or pebbles at the base for proper drainage, followed by soil if live plants are to be used.

Choose small succulents or air plants, as they require minimal maintenance and fit neatly within confined spaces.

Add moss, bark, or decorative stones to create texture and variety.

Interspersed with tiny figurines or unique rocks, these elements come together to craft a captivating, living tableau that draws the eye and sparks conversation.

FAQ

What can you fill a decorative bowl with?

Decorative bowls can be filled with an array of items including fresh flowers, dried herbs or petals, small stones, marbles, ornaments, succulents, plants, pine cones, potpourri, seashells, and beads, which can either be arranged in an intriguing pattern or kept simple with a single type of filler.

What do you put in a decorative wood bowl?

A decorative wood bowl can be filled with a variety of objects such as fruits, nuts, candy, pine cones, greenery, or flowers to create appealing centerpieces or to add a rustic look to your space.

What do people put in crystal bowls?

People typically fill crystal bowls with a fresh selection of fruits like apples, grapes, bananas, pears, or a single type of fruit such as Queen Anne Cherries or green and black grapes to lend an elegant touch to their dining room or kitchen.

What do you put in a large centerpiece bowl?

A large centerpiece bowl can be filled with various items such as flowers, unshelled nuts, bright red apples, lemons, small shells, or even silver decorative balls to enhance the table setting.

How can you use seasonal items to fill up a decorative bowl?

To utilize seasonal items in filling up a decorative bowl, consider incorporating items like pine cones in winter, seashells in summer, colorful leaves in fall, and fresh blossoms in spring.

What kind of edible arrangements can be displayed in a large centerpiece bowl?

Large centerpiece bowls can display edible arrangements such as fruit bouquets, cheese and charcuterie displays, assorted bread baskets, or themed cookie assortments.

What are some unconventional items you can put in a crystal bowl for decor?

Unconventional items to put in a crystal bowl for decor include colored sand, seashells, dried citrus slices, vintage buttons, Christmas tree baubles, antique pocket watches, or braided faux silk flowers.